The Newsy Neighbour Magazine
June Issue #116
Article Provided By:Kathryn Hartwell
“Where is the salt and pepper?” No meal is ever
complete unless the salt and pepper are on the table. These two herbs and
minerals are the most commonly used flavour enhancers since the beginning of
time. As I have gotten older, I have tried to cut back on my intake of salt and
only use “Pink Himalayan salt”. (The gem of the
Himalayan Mountains, pink salt, is said to be the purest salt on earth.
Himalayan salt happens to be 85% sodium chloride, and the remainder contains
over 80+ minerals. These minerals can help your body balance your PH, regulate
water content, remove toxins, help absorb nutrients, prevent muscle cramping,
create balance and more. Known for its pure taste and its unique pinkish hue,
the Himalayan Pink Salt is one of the top choices for salt).
But what I really
want to talk to you about is pepper. Peppercorns
contain an impressive list of plant derived chemical compounds that are known
to have disease preventing and health promoting properties. Black peppers have
been in use for centuries for their anti-inflammatory, carminative,
anti-flatulent properties and did you know that the
piperine in black pepper can be credited with the prevention of cancer, and
becomes twice as potent when combined with turmeric. The spice also has Vitamin C,
Vitamin A, flavonoids, carotenes and other anti-oxidants that help remove
harmful free radicals and protect the body from cancers and diseases. The best
way to eat pepper to harness maximum benefits is to eat freshly ground pepper,
and not cook it along with food. Add it after the cooking process. Black pepper
is antibacterial in nature, and therefore helps to cure cold and cough.
A teaspoon of honey with freshly crushed pepper does the trick. It also helps
to alleviate chest congestion.
Now all this time you thought you were putting pepper on your food to
give it a little kick without even knowing you were doing something healthy for
your body. Black peppercorns contain a good amount of
minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and magnesium.
Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control
heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for
the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is essential for cellular respiration
and blood cell production.
They are also an
excellent source of many vital B-complex groups of vitamins such as Pyridoxine,
riboflavin, thiamin and niacin. Peppercorns are a good source of many
antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A. They are also rich in
flavonoid polyphenolic anti-oxidants like carotenes, cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin
and lycopene. These compounds help the body remove harmful free radicals and
help protect from cancers and diseases. And there is more—Black pepper helps in boosting the metabolism in the body.
It burns the unwanted calories and helps in reducing belly fat. Black pepper is
very effective against obesity. The daily consumption of black pepper helps in
reducing stomach-related problems.
You
know, of course, they are always trying to make a good thing even better so now
you can purchase “Black Pepper Essential Oil”. It can be attributed to its properties as a digestive,
diaphoretic, carminative, aperient, antispasmodic, antirheumatic,
antiarthritic, antibacterial, and antioxidant substance.
What do these words mean?
Digestive: Black pepper is remarkably beneficial for digestion because it stimulates the whole digestive system,
from the salivary glands in the mouth to the large intestine, including
promoting secretion of digestive juices like acids and bile into the stomach to
facilitate digestion.
Antispasmodic: It
is an effective antispasmodic and gives good relief in case of cramps, muscles
pulls, spasms, or convulsions.
Carminative: Black
Pepper Essential Oil is carminative and helps remove gases and prohibit
additional gas formation in the stomach and in the
intestines. It also helps inhibit bacteria that are responsible for the
formation of gas.
Aperient:
Black pepper oil has mild purgative properties, but it is safe for the system,
unlike other purgatives like Castor Oil. It helps clean the intestines and at
the same time, cures infections in the digestive and the excretory system.
Anti-rheumatic & Anti-arthritic: These are two of the best qualities of black
pepper oil. It is warming, stimulating and improves circulation, thereby giving
immediate relief for rheumatism and arthritis, particularly during the winter when the symptoms
are aggravated the most. It is also effective in removing toxins like uric acid
from the blood, thereby benefiting people suffering from chronic rheumatism,
arthritis, and gout.
Diaphoretic & Diuretic: Black pepper oil, when ingested, increases
sweating and urination. Both of these properties play an important role in the
removal of toxins from the body, clearing of the pores on the skin, and disinfecting the body. Sweating and urinating
help eliminate extra water and fat from the body, thereby reducing weight,
lowering blood pressure and making the body very relaxed. These properties are
also helpful for reducing inflammation.
Antioxidant: This
is yet another beneficial property of black pepper oil. It protects the body
from damages done by oxidants (free radicals) and also helps to repair those
damages that have already been done. It also delays adverse effects of aging
such as vision loss, macular degeneration, wrinkling of the skin,
degeneration and loosening of the muscles, loss of mobility in the joints,
nervous disorders, and memory loss.
Antibacterial: It
has good antibacterial properties that you can enjoy without any adverse side
effects. It is very effective in curing bacterial infections in the mouth,
colon, digestive system, and urinary tract. It also disinfects food that it is added to and protects them from
bacterial infections for long periods.
When I hear the words “essential
oils,” I think highly concentrated concoction and get nervous about maybe
overdoing it, especially when you are taking it internally! This is what I
found out about this fantastic healthy essential oil. Black pepper essential oil is available in some health
food stores and online. A 10-milliliter bottle costs between $10 and $15. Black
pepper oil can be inhaled directly from the bottle, diffused at home for a warming
aroma, taken internally in small doses and applied topically. When taking black pepper oil internally, be sure to
purchase a high-quality, 100 percent pure-grade product that’s made by a
trustworthy and reputable company. Because of its potent and medicinal
properties, you want to use the best product you can find.
When applied topically, black
pepper oil creates a warming sensation, so use small doses and dilute it with a
carrier oil, like coconut oil, jojoba oil or almond oil. Use a 1:1 dilution, especially if you apply the
oil to sensitive skin. There are so many ways to use black pepper essential
oil, and its uses go far beyond flavouring your food. Here are some easy ways
to use black pepper oil at home:
To increase circulation and
blood flow to the muscles and nerves, add 3–5 drops of black pepper oil to a
warm compress and apply to the abdomen or areas of concern.
To ease the discomfort of constipation, diarrhea and gas, take 1–2 drops of black pepper
oil internally by adding it to a smoothie, soup or savoury dish. It can also be
applied topically to the abdomen.
To aid respiratory conditions,
take internally or inhale the oil directly from the bottle.
To relieve congested airways,
apply 2–3 drops topically to the chest.
To reduce cigarette cravings,
diffuse black pepper oil or inhale it directly from the bottle when having
a craving.
To use it as a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatism, apply 2–3 drops topically to
the area of concern.
To help detoxify the body,
take 1–2 drops internally or apply 2–3 drops topically to the bottoms of the
feet.
To add flavour to soups,
stews, baked vegetables, salads and entrees, add 1–2 drops of black pepper
essential oil.
Black
pepper essential oil can be a strong irritant in high doses, so dilution with a
carrier oil (like coconut or jojoba oil) is recommended for topical
use. It’s smart to try a patch test before applying black pepper oil to a
larger area of your body. Start by applying a drop to your wrist or foot to
make sure you won’t have an adverse reaction.
If you are not comfortable
using black pepper oil, just stick with what you know and use the same black
pepper you always have. But remember, too much of a good thing can be bad! So
is the case with black pepper. Control the amount of black pepper intake
because it can cause some serious and some not so serious side effects, if not
taken in moderate quantity. Here’s a list of all that can go wrong with too
much black pepper:
1.
Creates Burning Sensation in Stomach:
Well, we all know that
black pepper is ‘hot’. Common sense tells us that we should limit the use of
black pepper in our dishes. But, sometimes common sense takes a back seat! In
such a case, the overuse of black pepper can lead to severe burning in the
stomach. Don’t worry, the burning will pass, it’s just temporary. Just be careful
next time!
2.
Can Cause Death:
Now, this is one of those
rarest of rare cases. But if pepper is consumed directly, it can get into the
lungs and cause death, especially in children. So, it is advised to eat black
pepper by mixing it with your food.
4.
Contraindication with Certain Drugs:
Patients taking
cyclosporine A, cholinergic, digoxin, and cytochrome P450 should avoid
consuming black pepper.
5.
Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Black pepper may upset the
stomach or cause gastrointestinal problems. So, patients suffering from
gastrointestinal disorders should avoid taking black pepper.
6.
May Lead to Respiratory Problems:
One must not inhale black
pepper as it may lead to respiratory problems like respiratory irritation,
asthma, etc.
7.
May Cause Irritation:
In some rare cases, the
intake of black pepper can lead to skin irritation with symptoms like itching,
swelling, and redness in skin.
8.
Difficulties During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:
If you are pregnant, your
body is already sensitive to spices. So, try and stay off black pepper. If you
are craving the flavour, add some to your favourite dish, but in minimal
quantities. The hot flavour and taste of black pepper can be transferred into
breast milk. So, unless you want to give your infant a crash course in spices,
stay away from black pepper if you are breastfeeding.
If you weigh in the pros
and cons of consuming black pepper, the pros will win hands down! The only way
black pepper can harm you is if you consume too much of it, which is an
unlikely scenario. So, enjoy your favourite spice in moderation!
Have a Fabulous and
Fantastic Day!
Kathryn Hartwell
Organics.org, food.ndtv.com,
draxe.com, organicfacts.net, .stylecraze.com
No comments:
Post a Comment